diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/Input/Hotkey.cs b/OpenRA.Game/Input/Hotkey.cs
index ea70df2e23..39782afe8d 100755
--- a/OpenRA.Game/Input/Hotkey.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/Input/Hotkey.cs
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ namespace OpenRA
 		public static bool TryParse(string s, out Hotkey result)
 		{
 			result = Invalid;
+			if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(s))
+				return false;
+
 			var parts = s.Split(' ');
 
 			Keycode key;